Computer Science PhD (EECS Department, CS division)

University of California-Berkeley College of Engineering · Berkeley, CA

• Field: Computer Science
• Degrees: Master's, PhD
• Application fee: $135
• GRE: Not accepted
• Letters: 3 (recommendations)

Deadlines

• M.S., M.S./Ph.D. and Ph.D. application, fall 2027 (8:59 pm PST): Dec. 1, 2026

Essays

Statement of purpose (No set length; many applicants aim for 500–1,000 words or 1–2 pages)

Why are you applying for this program? What are your research goals and interests? What do you hope to accomplish in this degree program? What do you want to do after and how will this help you?

Personal history statement (No set length; many applicants aim for 500–1,000 words or 1–2 pages)

What from your past made you decide to go into this field? And how will your personal history help you succeed in this program and your future goals?

Résumé or CV

Unofficial transcripts

Editor's notes

• Berkeley asks for two separate essays, a statement of purpose and a personal history statement, and its FAQ says a little overlap is fine, so let the first carry research goals and the second explain what in your background led you here. Apply to the CS division (listed as Computer Science, not EECS, on the Graduate Division application) and list faculty you want to work with instead of emailing them first. Submitted applications cannot be updated, so finalize everything before the December 1 deadline at 8:59 pm PST.

Sources

1. Berkeley EECS graduate research programs admissions (official)
2. Berkeley EECS graduate admissions FAQ (official)
3. UC Berkeley Graduate Division admission requirements (official)
4. UC Berkeley Graduate Division application fee waiver (official)
5. Berkeley EECS CS faculty list (official)